Twins Win On Puckett Power

1991 World Series

Kirby Nails Changeup, Forces Game 7

October 27, 1991|By Russ White of The Sentinel Staff

MINNEAPOLIS — Ted and Jane had to hold the champagne - Kirby Puckett knocked over the bucket.

Just about the time America was setting back its clocks an hour, Puckett stroked an 11th-inning home run that gave the Minnesota Twins a 4-3 victory in Game 6 of the World Series. Game 7 is set for tonight.

Puckett then took perhaps the slowest home run trot in history after hitting reliever Charlie Leibrandt's fourth pitch to him, a changeup.

The Braves came to the Metrodome Saturday, determined to beat the Twins a fourth consecutive time, having swept three games in Atlanta.

Puckett, however, stood in the way from start to finish in one of the most spectacular one-man shows in Series play.

''This is a game I'll never forget,'' Puckett said. ''I'm drained from the emotions, from playing. I feel I just went 15 rounds with (Evander) Holyfield. To tell the truth, I don't even know what I hit. A changeup, maybe. All I know it was up.''

The Twins' center fielder had three hits, scored twice, drove in three runs, stole a base and made the most dazzling catch of the Series to rob Ron Gant of an extra-base hit in the third inning.

Atlanta manager Bobby Cox took out his best reliever, Alejandro Pena and brought in Leibrandt, who did not pitch in relief all season, to face Puckett in the 11th.

''Why Charlie Leibrandt?'' Cox said. ''Why not Charlie Leibrandt? He won 15 games this year. And he had handcuffed Puckett in Game 1 (Leibrandt stated Game 1 and struck out Puckett in his first two at-bats).''

The Twins are 7-0 in World Series games at the dome, eager, of course, for Game 7 tonight when Jack Morris pitches against Atlanta's John Smoltz.

The starting pitchers in Game 6 - Atlanta's Steve Avery and Minnesota's Scott Erickson - each went six innings, allowing three runs. An honest night's work in the most crucial games of their young careers.

Avery's nemesis was Puckett, who tripled and drove in a run in the first and who supplied a sacrifice fly in the fifth for Minnesota's third run.

Puckett made a wonderful catch in the third, depriving Gant of an extra-base hit. Running to the fence in left-center, Puckett soared high to snare Gant's gallant drive. It was the best defensive play of the Series. ''It was mostly instinct,'' Puckett said. ''I knew Ronnie hit the ball well. I knew I had to move quickly and go high. I got there. That's all there was to it.''

Puckett singled and stole second in the eighth against lefty reliever Mike Stanton but was stranded when Chili Davis and Shane Mack flew out. Mack had broken an 0-for-15 slump with hits in his first two at-bats, driving in Minnesota's second run.

As Puckett spelled Peril with a Capital ''P'' to the Braves, Pendleton spelled it for the Twins. He has a good shot at being the Most Valuable Player in the National League, and now Pendelton has added an impressive World Series performance.

His two-run homer in the fifth off Erickson put the Braves on the scoreboard and was his second of the Series. Pendleton's third hit, though an infield dribbler, helped move up a runner when the Braves tied the score at 3-3 in the seventh.

The ever-pesky Mark Lemke began the rally with a single, advanced on a walk and Pendleton's hit, and scored on a forceout by Gant, who pumped his fist in the air in triumph for getting the tying run across.

The score stayed 3-3 until Puckett stole the night.

Morris and Smoltz talked about pitching in Game 7 tonight - both extremely confident and eager.

''I've pitched big games before,'' said Morris, 36. ''This is nothing new to me. We did what we had to do tonight. Now, we have to finish business.''

Smoltz, 24, said he believes Game 7 is the fitting conclusion ''to the most incredible season imaginable.'' The mood in the Atlanta clubhouse was upbeat despite the tough loss. ''No one is pushing the panic button,'' he said. ''We played them well tonight. A break here or there and we would have had them.''

The big winner today is the local champagne distributor. The bubbly will be on ice in both locker rooms this time.